Hi there!
Today we wanted to respond to a question we have seen raised numerous times on social media – what’s the deal with superfoods?
To put it simply, superfoods are foods that are rich in nutrients and healthy compounds such as antioxidants and fatty acids. These foods are regarded to be especially beneficial for a person’s health and well-being due to their nutrient profile. Scientifically, there is not an official definition or regulation to use the term, but these foods are widely accepted to be rich in desirable nutrients. These foods are also said to be nutrient-dense, referring to the fact that they offer maximum nutritional benefits for minimum calories. Many superfoods also happen to be plant-based (#plantpower!), with some whole grains and proteins also making the cut.
Common Superfoods
A quick online search of “top superfoods” will yield pages of results with different lists of foods. Most commonly, you’ll find a handful of different berries topping the lists, with blueberries appearing frequently. Greens such as kale, spinach, spirulina, and Swiss chard make regular appearances along with other veggies like broccoli and sweet potatoes. Oats and quinoa, along with flax and chia seeds are packed with nutrients. To round it out, salmon and legumes are also highly regarded. As you can, the lists of superfoods can be exhaustive, depending on your dietary preferences.
One thing all nutrition experts will agree on is that variety is king! Whether that pertains to your superfood choices or your daily diet as a whole, including a wide variety of healthful (and colorful) foods is the best way to reap the benefits. This will ensure you’re consuming a variety of vitamins, minerals, nutrients, as well as antioxidants.
How Superfoods Help
We mentioned antioxidants earlier, but we should explain these. Antioxidants are naturally occurring molecules in certain foods, and they benefit us by neutralizing free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are not our friends. They attack the fats, proteins, and DNA in our cells which can cause damage, lead to different types of diseases, and also speed up the aging process.
Beyond their healthful nutrient profile, superfoods contain antioxidants and flavonoids, which further their “superpowers”. Flavonoids are phytonutrients with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to protect your cells from damage.
Antioxidants and flavonoids are abundant in plant-based foods, tea, and coffee beans. Continued research looks at their ability to decrease the risk of various diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, blood pressure, and even certain types of cancers.
Feel Super Everyday
With their potential benefits, and basic health-supporting profiles, we’re sure you want to include superfoods in your daily diet. We also understand that it can be tough to get your fruits and vegetables in each day, so we have good news for you. Greens products are formulated to include a huge array of superfoods (along with other healthful ingredients). In fact, Good Greens has 47 superfoods! We wanted to make it easy for everyone to hit their health goals, and Good Greens accomplishes that in one convenient (and tasty) tablespoon.
We hope this helped clear up any questions you have about superfoods!